Kurt Schwertsik (born 25 June 1935) is an

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

n contemporary

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

. He is known for creating the "Third Viennese School" and spreading contemporary classical music.

Life

Schwertsik was born in

Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

. A pupil of

Joseph Marx Joseph Rupert Rudolf Marx (11 May 1882 – 3 September 1964) was an Austrian composer, teacher and critic. Life and career Marx was born in Graz and pursued studies in philosophy, art history, German studies, and music at Graz University, earni ...

and Karl Schiske at the Academy of Music, he later studied with

Karlheinz Stockhausen Karlheinz Stockhausen (; 22 August 1928 – 5 December 2007) was a German composer, widely acknowledged by critics as one of the most important but also controversial composers of the 20th and early 21st centuries. He is known for his groun ...

in Cologne and Darmstadt. In 1958 he founded the ensemble "die reihe" with fellow composer and conductor

Friedrich Cerha Friedrich Cerha (born 17 February 1926) is an Austrian composer, conductor and music educator. Education and Career Cerha was born in Vienna, Austria, and educated at the Viennese Music Academy (violin with Váša Příhoda, composition with ...

(famous for finishing the opera ''

Lulu Lulu may refer to: Companies * LuLu, an early automobile manufacturer * Lulu.com, an online e-books and print self-publishing platform, distributor, and retailer * Lulu Hypermarket, a retail chain in Asia * Lululemon Athletica or simply Lulu, a C ...

'', by

Alban Berg Alban Maria Johannes Berg ( , ; 9 February 1885 – 24 December 1935) was an Austrian composer of the Second Viennese School. His compositional style combined Romantic lyricism with the twelve-tone technique. Although he left a relatively sma ...

) and later, in 1968, the ensemble "MOB art & tone ART" with Otto Matthäus Zykan and

Heinz Karl Gruber Heinz Karl "Nali" Gruber (born 3 January 1943), who styles himself HK Gruber professionally, is an Austrian composer, conductor, double bass player and singer. He is a leading figure of the so-called Third Viennese School. Career Gruber is said to ...

. He served as hornist of the

Vienna Symphony Orchestra The Vienna Symphony (Vienna Symphony Orchestra, german: Wiener Symphoniker) is an Austrian orchestra based in Vienna. Its primary concert venue is the Vienna Konzerthaus. In Vienna, the orchestra also performs at the Musikverein and at the Thea ...

(from 1968) while teaching Composition at the

Konservatorium Wien The Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna ( (MUK)) in Vienna, Austria, is a university of music and the arts. It was previously (2005−2015) named (KONSuni, Konservatorium Wien University), and before that (Conservatory of Vienna). ...

(from 1979). Between 1989 and 2004 he was Professor of Composition at the Vienna Musikhochschule (Academy of Music, when he was studying there, now called

University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna The University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (german: link=no, Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien, abbreviated MDW) is an Austrian university located in Vienna, established in 1817. With a student body of over three thousa ...

). His works are characterised by his particular exploration of

tonality Tonality is the arrangement of pitches and/or chords of a musical work in a hierarchy of perceived relations, stabilities, attractions and directionality. In this hierarchy, the single pitch or triadic chord with the greatest stability is call ...

and his musical irony and humour. He received the Grand Austrian State Prize (1992), the

Austrian Decoration for Science and Art The Austrian Decoration for Science and Art (german: Österreichisches Ehrenzeichen für Wissenschaft und Kunst) is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria and forms part of the Austrian national honours system. History The "Austrian D ...

(1997) and numerous other awards. Kurt Schwertsik is President of the Joseph Marx Society that was founded in 2006 in order to implement the Renaissance of this composer. Thus, Schwertsik has accepted the position of the leader of an organisation for the first time in his career and also avowed himself a melodist according to the musical philosophy that was developed and represented by Joseph Marx.

Prizes

* City of Vienna Prize for Music (1980) *

Grand Austrian State Prize The Grand Austrian State Prize () is a decoration given annually by Austria to an artist for exceptional work. The recipient must be an Austrian citizen with a permanent residence in Austria. It was originally created in 1950 by then education mi ...

for Music (1992) *

(1997) * Silver Medal for Service to the City of Vienna (2006)

Works (selection)

Instrumental music

Orchestral works * ''... für Audifax und Abachum'', symphony for large orchestra, op.8 (1963–70) * ''Draculas Haus- und Hofmusik'', a Transylvanian symphony for strings, op.18 (1968) * ''Symphonie im MOB-Stil'' for orchestra, op.19 (1971) * ''Epilog zu Rosamunde'', op.33 (1978) * ''Tag- und Nachtweisen; Im Ton des Mönchs von Salzburg und Herrn Marteins'', op.34 (1978) * ''Irdische Klänge'' Cycle (1980–1992), comprising: ** ''Irdische Klänge'', Symphony in 2 movements, op.37 (1980) ** ''Fünf Naturstücke'', Der Irdischen Klänge 2. Teil, op.45 (1983-4) ** ''Mit den Riesenstiefeln'', op.60 (1991) ** ''Uluru'', op.64 (1992) * ''Baumgesänge'', op.65 (1992) * ''Sinfonia-Sinfonietta'', op.73 (1996) * Mond-Lichtung'' for string orchestra, op.75 (1997) * ''Unter Messing Baumen'' for 4 natural horns and orchestra, op.77 (1998) * ''Nachtmusiken'' Music for solo instrument and orchestra * Alphorn Concerto ‘'In Keltischer Manier’’, op.27 (1975) * ''Violin Concerto No. 1'', op.31 (1977) * ''Guitar Concerto'', op.35 (1979) * ''Instant Music'' for flute and wind orchestra, op.40 (1981) * Timpani Concerto, op.54 (1987–88) * Double-Bass Concerto, op.56 (1989) * ''Violin Concerto No. 2'' * ''Flute Concerto'' * ''Trombone Concerto''

Stage music

* ''Der lange Weg zur großen Mauer'' – Opera based on a novel by

Richard Bletschacher Richard Max Josef Bletschacher (born October 23, 1936 in Füssen, Bavaria) is a German writer, and dramatic advisor. Bletschacher studied law, philosophy, and literature in Munich, Heidelberg, Paris, and Vienna, without acquiring a degree. From 19 ...

, op.24 (1974) * ''Wiener Chronik 1848'', ballet op.28 (1976–77, originally performed as ''Walzerträume''; written for the Cologne City Opera) * ''Katzelmacher'' – Opera based on a text by Rainer Werner Fassbinder * ''Fanferlieschen Schönefüßchen'' – Fairy-tale opera after Clemens Brentano, based on a text by Karin and Thomas Körner, op.42 (1982) * ''Das verlorene Wut'', Singspiel for TV based on a text by Christine Nöstlinger, op.57 (1989) * ''Der ewige Frieden'', operetta on a text by Thomas Korner, op.58 (1990) * ''Frida Kahlo'', dance-theatre work (1991) * ''Café-Museum – Die Erleuchtung'', chamber opera, op.67 (1993) * ''Die Welt der Mongolen'', opera based on a text by Michael Köhlmeier, op.72 (1996)

Vocal music

* ''shâl-i-mâr'' for baritone and orchestra, op.17 (1962–72) to texts by

H.C. Artmann Hans Carl Artmann (12 June 1921 – 4 December 2000), also known as Ib Hansen, was an Austrian poet and writer, most popular for his early poems written in Viennese (''med ana schwoazzn dintn'', 1958), which however, never after were to b ...

* ''Starckdeutsche Lieder und Tänze'' for baritone and orchestra, op.44 (1982) to texts by Matthias Koeppel * ''Human existence'' for voice and chamber ensemble (1992), texts by

Flann O'Brien Brian O'Nolan ( ga, Brian Ó Nualláin; 5 October 1911 – 1 April 1966), better known by his pen name Flann O'Brien, was an Irish civil service official, novelist, playwright and satirist, who is now considered a major figure in twentieth cen ...

* ''Die Furie des Verschwindens'' for mixed choir * ''Roald Dahl’s Goldilocks'' for narrator and orchestra, op.74 (1996), text by Donald Sturrock after

Roald Dahl Roald Dahl (13 September 1916 – 23 November 1990) was a British novelist, short-story writer, poet, screenwriter, and wartime fighter ace of Norwegian descent. His books have sold more than 250 million copies worldwide. Dahl has be ...

* a huge number of songs

Chamber music

* ''Liebesträume'' for 7 instruments, op.7 (1962) * ''Eichendorff-Quintett'' for wind quintet, op.9 (1964) * 5 Nocturnes for cello and piano, op.10c (1966) * ''Music vom Mutterland Mu'' for 11 instruments, op.22 (1974) * ''Skizzen und Entwürfe'' for string quartet, op.25 (1974) * ''Twilight Music,'' A Celtic Serenade for Octet, op. 30 (1976) * ''Blechpartie im neuesten Geschmack'' for brass quintet, op.43 (1982) * ''Am Ende Steht ein Marsch'' for wind octet, op. 59 (1991) * ''Drei späte Liebeslieder'' for cello and piano, op.66 (1992) * ''Mobelmusik-Klassisch'' for 2 violins, viola and double bass, op.68 (1994; also version for string orchestra) * ''Wake'' for string quartet, op.70 (1994) * ''Adieu Satie'' for bandoneon and string quartet * ''Ganesha Walkabout'' for string quartet, op.76 (1998) * ''Sotto Voce'' for 4 instruments, Op. 39 (Flute, Violin, 'cello & Guitar) (1980)

Solo instrumental

* 5 Nocturnes for piano, op.10a * Ein Kleines Requiem, op.97

References

External links

Kurt Schwertisk page at Boosey & Hawkes (publisher)
biography, works list, recordings and performance search.
Documentary: ''Schwertsik on Schwertsik''Joseph Marx SocietyEnsemble "die reihe"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Schwertsik, Kurt 1935 births 20th-century classical composers 20th-century male musicians 21st-century classical composers 21st-century male musicians Austrian classical composers Austrian male classical composers Austrian opera composers Male opera composers Living people Musicians from Vienna Pupils of Joseph Marx Pupils of Karlheinz Stockhausen Recipients of the Austrian Decoration for Science and Art Recipients of the Grand Austrian State Prize University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna alumni